French-English

FRENCH	ENGLISH		Example
	Incorrect	Correct
Inconvenant	Inconvenient	Improper	Improper behaviour will not be tolerated.
Injure	Injure	Insult	Please don't take that as an insult.
Large	Large	Wide	The Champs Elysées is a very wide avenue.
Lecture	Lecture	Reading	Anne likes reading.
Librairie	Library	Bookshop	A bookshop is where you buy books.
Location	Location	Rental / lease to rent / to let	They signed a 2-year rental/lease. The house was let for two years.
Monnaie	Money	Currency / change	I need change for the parking meter. What currency is used in Norway?
Nuisance	Nuisance	Harm/damage/pollution	Noise is a form of pollution that can be harmful.
Organisme	Organism	organisation/agency	A relief agency is providing food and shelter.
Pièce	Piece	Room / a play (theatre)	How many rooms are there in the house? I saw a good play at the theatre yesterday.
Prévenir	Prevent	Warn	He shouted to warn people of the danger.
Professeur	Professor (tit. d'une chaire)	Teacher	My father is a teacher at the high school. My mother is a professor at the university.
Propre	Proper	Clean Own	The kitchen is clean. Emily has her own car.
Propriété	Propriety	Property	The property belongs to the rich family.
Realize	Realize	Accomplish/carry out Come true (a dream)	He accomplished the task without difficulty. I hope all your dreams will come true.
Regarder	Regard	Look at	Let's look at the pictures.
Résumer	Resume	Summarize / sum up	The report summarizes the main points.
Réunion	Reunion	Meeting	A meeting was held to discuss the problem.
Sensible	Sensible	Sensitive	A baby's skin is very sensitive.
Situation (geo.)	Situation	Location / situation	The offices are in a good location/well situated.
Store	Store	Blind	We have blinds on our windows.
Supporter	Support	Put up with	Teachers have to put up with noisy children.
Sympathique	Sympathetic	Nice/friendly/likeable	Our new neighbours are very nice Jack is a very likeable guy..
Tentative	Tentative	Attempt	He made an attempt/he attempted to escape

FAUX AMIS - FALSE FRIENDS

FRENCH	ENGLISH		Example
	Incorrect	Correct
Achever	Achieve	Complete / finish	The renovation was finished at the end of 2010. We have completed the programme.
Actuellement	Actually	At the moment, currently.	At the moment I am revising my English.
Affluence	Affluence	Crowds	There were crowds of people in the streets.
Agenda	Agenda	Diary	I note all my appointments in my diary.
Ancien	Ancient	Former	Our former chairman was more dynamic.
Assister a	Assist	Attend	All the personnel must attend the meeting.
Avertissement	Advertisement	Warning	The message was sent as a warning.
Bail	Bail	Lease	We can move in as soon as we sign the lease.
Blesser	Bless	Hurt / injure	He was injured in a road accident.
Bribes	Bribes	Scraps, snatches	He overheard snatches of the conversation.
Chance	Chance	Luck	Good luck! I hope you'll be as lucky as Tom.
Coin	Coin	Corner	The cinema is at the corner of the street.
Commander	Command	Order	He ordered food for everybody.
Conducteur	Conductor	Driver	She told the driver to be careful on the roads.
Confection	Confection	Clothing industry	He works in the clothing industry.
Controle	Control	Check	Tickets are checked before boarding.
Deception	Deception	Disappointment	His failure was a big disappointment.
Decevoir	Deceive	Disappoint	The players were disappointed not to win.
Delai	Delay	Time limit/deadline	We were given a time limit. Friday is the deadline.
Envie	Envy	Want / feel like	I don't want to go/ I don't feel like going.
Eventuellement	Eventually	Possibly/perhaps/if need be	Perhaps/If need be I could send a fax.
Formidable	Formidable	Great/terrific	You did a terrific job!
Fortuné	Fortunate	Wealthy, well-off	The money was donated by a wealthy man.
Fournitures	Furniture	Supplies	Julie is responsible for office supplies.
Gentil	Gentle	Nice / kind	She's a nice person. Her remarks are always kind.
Grief (faire)	Grieve	Reproach	Amy reproached Tom for breaking his promise.
Habit	Habit	Clothes/ dress	The old man was wearing his Sunday clothes.
Ignorer	Ignore	Not pay attention take no notice know nothing	It's best not to pay attention to his behaviour. Take no notice of him! I know nothing about the incident.
Important	Important	Big / large	There was a big crowd waiting to see the Queen.